Multiple arm articulated toy



Sept. 2, 1969 J. J. MORITZ MULTIPLE ARM ARTICULATED TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1967 n N m0 R W 1 A n N M07 P 2, 1969 J. J. MORITZ 3,464,148

MULTIPLE ARM ARTICULATED TOY Filed Nov. 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Y John J. Nor-Ifz ATI'UR/V 'Sept. 2, 1969 J. J. MORITZ MULTIPLE ARM ARTICULATED TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1967 John 4143731 B, $044M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,464,148 MULTIPLE ARM ARTICULATED TOY John J. Moritz, 201 W. 88th St., Apt. 1A, New York, N.Y. 10024 Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,375 Int. Cl. A63h 33 00 US. C]. 46-43 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy for visual admiration and wonder, wherein a series of balls in sequence assume changing positions while being transported upon a rotatable assembly, and the balls rolling along an inclined platform while not being carried by the rotatable assembly; all the above steps of action proceeding at the same time before the eyes of the beholder.

This invention relates generally to toys. More specifically it relates to a rotatable Wheel toy.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a motor driven articulated toy having a rotatable assembly which during one rotation picks up a series of balls from a platform, carries them and then re-deposit them upon the platform.

Another object is to provide an articulated toy wherein the balls are picked up one at a time and re-deposited one at a time, so to give a continuous action during rotation.

Yet another object is to provide an articulated toy wherein the balls are each carried on an extending arm of the rotatable assembly and wherein the ball travels along the arm during the assembly rotation, whereby each ball is carried upwardly at a position relatively close to the rotatable assembly hub and wherein each ball is carried downwardly at a position relatively far from the hub.

Yet another object is to provide an articulated toy wherein the downwardly returning balls are deposited upon one end of the platform and are re-picked up from the other end of the platform, the platform being inclined to cause the balls to roll thereacross, thereby allowing the balls to be picked up again by the initially carrying positions of the arms.

Other objects are to provide a multiple arm articulated toy which appears complex in design, is inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention shown in operative position.

-FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing for a better understanding only one of the units that comprise the rotatable assembly.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross section, showing one end of one of the arms.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the opposite end of the cross arm shown in position to pick up a ball on the platform.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 77 of F1636.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a multiple arm articulated toy according to the present invention wherein there is a main frame 11 composed of upstanding corner posts 12 interconnected by horizontal longitudinal and transverse geams 13 and 14 respectively at their upper and lower ends, the mainframe supporting an inclined platform 15 comprised of a plurality of parallel, longitudinal, spaced apart beams 16. A plurality of upstanding, central posts 17 provide bearing means 18 for a shaft 19 carrying a rotatable as.- sembly 20.

An electric motor 21 mounted on a corner post is connected by electric cord 22 to a source of electrical power, the motor having a motor shaft upon which a pulley 23 is secured, the pulley receiving an endless belt 24 received around an idler pulley 25 rigidly afiixcd upon a shaft 26 which also carries a pulley 27 ailixed thereupon. The pulley 27 is connected by endless belt 28 to a hexagonal configurated pulley 29 affixed on the shaft 19.

The assembly 20 is comprised of a plurality of twelve frame units 30 each of which has four, radially extending arms 31 about a hub 32 through which the shaft 19 extends, thus forming a frame 30 or is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein only one unit 30 is shown for purpose of clarity. The frame additionally includes cross arm 33 secured relatively near their opposite ends between adjacent arms 31, the cross arm being of channel configuration having a longitudinal groove 34, between beads 35 which together form a track 36. Each cross arm comprises a carrier for a singular ball 37, the cross arm having a ball saddle 38 at one end and a ball seat 39 at its opposite end. The ball saddle 38 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a pair of arcuate ribs 40' secured on each side of cross arm 33 to form a space 41 therebetween. The ribs 40 carry an arcuate track 42 within the space 44, the track being pivotable about a pin 43. The track 42 is composed of a pair of arcuate rails 44 secured in fixed apart relation by means of cross pins 44a. The tracks 42 are pivotable by gravity force between the positions as is shown in FIG. 6, and comprises an extension for the track 36 across which the ball may travel. A cross piece 45 limits the pivotal movement of the track 42.

The ball seat 39 likewise is comprised of a pair of rails 46 in spaced apart relation by means of cross piece 47, as shown in FIG. 4, so to form a space 48 between the rails. The rails 46 also form an extending track 49 for the track 36; the track 49 being pivotable about a pin 50 to assume the dilferent positions as shown in'FIG. 3. A transverse pin 51 on the ball seat 39 abuts a tab 52 on the end of the cross arm to serve as a limit stop for the pivoted travel of the ball seat so that it cannot travel beyond the position shown in FIG. 4. The terminal end of the rails 46 are carved up to form a seat 53 within which the ball may rest.

The inclined platform 15 includes each beam 16 having an upstanding stop 54 along an intermediate upper side of the beam, against which a ball comes to rest. The stop comprises a block 55 across which a metal strap 56 extends to form an inclined runway to allow the ball to roll over the stop.

In operative use, the motor 21 is started to cause the rotatable assembly 20 to turn on shaft 19. During rotation each unit turns so that its four crossarm units go through the various positions shown within FIG. 3. During the rotation of the assembly, a ball stopped behind stop 54 is pushed over the stop by the track 42 moving between the beams 16. During this pushing movement the track 42 is turning also about the pivotal center of assembly 20, thus causing the ball to get caught within the saddle, get picked up thereby and carried upwardly. When the assembly has traveled approximately degrees, the cross arm 33 is in a horizontal position and starts to tilt downwardly at its ball seat end thus causing the ball to leave the saddle and travel along'the track 36 until it stops within the ball seat, where it rests while travelling downwardly. It will be noted that during this downward travel, that the ball is relatively further from the pivotal center of the assembly 20 than when the ball is being carried upwardly. At the lower end of the travel of the ball, the ball seat passes between the beams 16 of the platform, thus depositing the ball upon the platform. The ball is of a diameter that is larger than the space between beams 16, a pair of adjacent beams thus forming rails upon which the balls are deposited. The rails being inclined, the ball accordingly, then starts to roll along the rails until. it comes to the stop 54 where it comes to rest, awaiting to be again picked up by the same ball seat, as above described, thus completing one cycle of operation of the device. As is shown in FIG. 1, the several units 20 are each mounted on the shaft 19 whereby the units work in sequence. Thus at any one moment, all of the above portions of the above described cycle may be witnessed taking place somewhere upon the assembly, thus presenting an admirable sight that appears to be complex when viewed in its entirety, yet which is made of a multitude of relatively simple movements performed by many units in overlapping sequence.

I claim:

1. In an articulated toy, the combination of a framework, a rotatable assembly carried upon said framework, a motor providing power means to turn said rotatable assembly, an inclined platform supported on said framework, and a plurality of balls rollable along said platform between a point of deposit on said platform and a point of pick up from said platform by said rotatable assembly which transports said balls back to said point of deposit, said assembly including means whereby said balls are picked up from said platform and carried upwardly at a lesser distance from a pivotal center of said assembly than when said balls travel downwardly on said assembly toward said point of deposit on said platform, said rotatable assembly comprising a plurality of like units, each said unit including a hub, a plurality of radial arms extending from said hub, a cross arm secured between pairs of said arms, each said cross arm having a ball saddle at one end on a ball seat at its outer end, said ball saddle 4 comprising a means for picking up a singular-said ball from said platform, said cross arm comprising track means for transporting said ball from said saddle to said ball seat, and said seat comprising means for supporting said ball during downward travel toward said platform.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross arm comprises an elongated channel member having a groove between ridges forming rails upon which said ball is supported while traveling therealong.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said saddle comprises an arcuate rib adjacent each side of an end of said cross arm, an arcuate track pivotally supported between said ribs said track being comprised of a pair of spaced apart rails on which said ball may travel.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said ball seat comprises an extending track pivotally secured to the opposite end of said cross arm, said extending track being comprised of a pair of spaced apart rails having a curved terminal end to form a seat for said ball.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said platform comprises a plurality of spaced apart beams said beams forming rails for said balls, said beams being mounted at an inclined angle on said mainframe whereby said balls will travel by gravity force from said point of deposit therealong.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said platform beams are each provided at an intermediate point between opposite ends with an upstanding stop comprised of a block upon each beam and a strap thereacross to form runways across said block, for the purpose of arresting the ball from further travel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1918 Gregory 46-43 3/1926 Richardson 4643 US. Cl. X.R. 40-10625 

